Why Chelsea Need To Give Sarri Time
By Max Wise
To say Chelsea is an impatient club is an understatement; the London-based club was starved of genuine success for nearly 50 years until a certain Jose Mourinho, backed by the millions of dollars of club owner, Roman Abramovich, won the club’s first Premier League title in 2005 for half-a-century. The rest is history.
Fast forward 14 years, and the club has chalked some considerable successes, winning the UEFA Champions League in 2012 and the Europa League a year later.
But the one department of the club that has largely been unstable is the managerial seat.
Chelsea have had nine full-time managers and four caretaker ones since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
The latest in a long line of managers to take the helm at Stamford Bridge is the Italian, Maurizio Sarri, who took over from Antonio Conte at the start of the season.
After a bright start to life at Stamford Bridge, which included an unbeaten run in their first 12 league games of the campaign, Chelsea have endured an inconsistent run, particularly in the second half of the season.
Already, a lot of fans have started pressing the panic button, calling for Sarri’s head, as was manifested when the Stamford Bridge crowd chanted ‘f*ck Sarriball’ in the recent FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.
Last week, reports made rounds, in various British tabloids, that season ticket holders at the club are putting their tickets up for sale after growing frustrated with the club’s brand of football and recent results.
In truth, more successful managers than Sarri have been ruthlessly dismissed by Abramovich in the past.
Jose Mourinho was dismissed in his first spell despite winning two Premier League titles, two League cups and one FA Cup in his three full seasons in charge, but was shown the exit after a poor start to his fourth season.
Carlo Ancelotti was sacked in his second season for finishing second in the Premier League despite winning the title and one FA Cup in his first.
Roberto di Matteo was gone just a few months after leading Chelsea to the Champions League title, and Antonio Conte’s league and FA Cup triumphs in two years were not enough to see him through a three-year contract.
Mourinho’s three-and-a-half year stay at Stamford Bridge in his first spell is the longest a manager has stayed at Stamford Bridge under Abramovich.
Despite all these, the ‘chop and change’ culture at the Stamford Bridge club seems to have worked in their favour, with 15 major trophies to show for in the Roman Abramovich era.
However, it's about time a manager is given enough time to stay for a longer period and implement his playing style at the club.
‘Sarriball’ is a delight to watch when it clicks; Abramovich must have been salivating at the sight of Chelsea’s playing style at the start of the season until the fallow period set in.
When Sarri’s style started paying dividends at previous club Napoli last season in the Italian Serie A, they were simply irresistible and pushed Juventus all the way before eventually losing the title by a meager four points.
Like Guardiola at Manchester City, Sarri must be provided with time and the necessary tools to implement his style of play.
Sarri has not won a trophy in his career, yet the former bank manager is at a club that is addicted to success and can even break his trophy drought before the season comes to an end.
Chelsea are still in a healthy position to win the Europa League, while a top four place is not out of sight but the Carabao cup final loss to Manchester City in February will be long forgotten if Sarri finally wins his first trophy, and many more will follow if only the Blues will give him time.
